Citation

Urbach JR, Culbert JP. Psychosomatics 1991; 32(1): 24-33.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0710.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2003135

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury, a prevalent health problem in contemporary society, poses complex adaptational challenges for victims' families. The sequelae most disruptive to family functioning appear to be residual psychiatric symptoms. With a peak incidence among young adults, brain trauma also befalls many parents of dependent children; these children are vulnerable to subsequent emotional and behavioral difficulties. An approach to these problems must recognize the broad spectrum of clinical outcomes from brain injury. Valuable insights may also be gained from earlier work on children's responses to more familiar parental psychiatric disorders. Three case reports of children with head-injured parents are presented, followed by a discussion of treatment considerations for this emerging "at-risk" population.

Language: en